Mercedes F1 Team Confirm AMG Hypercar With F1 Engine
An insider within the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team has confirmed with both TopGear and Evo Magazine that the rumored Mercedes-AMG hypercar is a go.
The unnamed individual also revealed that the hypercar will be powered by an engine very similar to the 1.6-liter V6 turbo unit used in Mercedes’ current F1 car, the W07, including its complex energy recovery system. Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth, who build the F1 team’s hybrid powertrains, will be responsible for adapting the high-strung power unit for road use. The hypercars internal systems, including hardware and software, will be also be adapted from the F1 team’s W07 chassis, according to Autocar.
At this point, there are a lot of unknowns, particularly about the power unit itself. Reportedly, the engine will develop anywhere from 1000hp to 1500hp, with an estimated 700hp-900hp coming from the internal combustion engine (ICE). Evo claim that like the current generation of F1 racing cars, the Mercedes-AMG hypercar will feature two 160hp electric motors in addition to the ICE, one for each of the front wheels. It’s also possible the engine’s displacement will be increased for reliability, and that a second turbocharger will be added.
Details regarding the rest of the vehicle are also slightly fuzzy. What’s certain is that the hypercar will begin with an F1-inspired carbon fiber monocoque chassis, feature gullwing doors and a cockpit-style canopy. No word on the design just yet either, but the smart money is on a cross between the W07 F1 car and an LMP1 endurance racer.
The news of a Mercedes hypercar comes at a very interesting time as Aston Martin and Red Bull continue to develop their own Aston Martin-Red Bull 001 hypercar with the help of F1 genius Adrian Newey.
Aston Martin and Red Bull have opted for a bespoke, naturally-aspirated V12 with KERS for their project, which will come in two versions, one street legal and one for track use only. They will produce between 99 and “up to 150” road-going examples and a reported 24 or 25 track versions with deliveries beginning in 2018.
Mercedes have declined official comment on the AMG-F1 hypercar, and thus there is no solid information regarding production volume or price. Other automotive outlets report that a 50 unit output would make sense as it would coincide with AMG’s 50th anniversary next year.
The AMB-RB 001 is expected to cost between £2-£3 million ($2.6 million-$4 million at today’s exchange rates). Evo estimate the Mercedes-AMG hypercar will be priced at around £4 million ($4.5 million at today’s exchange rates).
There is no word on when we expect to see the Mercedes-AMG F1 hypercar officially confirmed, but Autocar report that Mercedes recently began the actual physical development of the car, and may have Lotus handle the chassis setup of the road car.
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